Suncoast Chess Winter Tournament - Feb 2017

Thanks everyone for participating in our Winter tournament. We set a new attendance record, with a total of 81 players! Thanks in large part to Ashton's new club, as well as increased attendance from other schools as well.

We loved seeing the higher numbers of players. It makes for a more exciting and worthy tournament. We're sorry about the delays, in part from late arriving add-ons, logistics of the larger numbers, and a late revision to our system to combine play between our two smallest sections, high school and middle school.

If you've been curious what official US Chess Federation (USCF) tournaments are like, this is it. Our tournaments are the same format and atmosphere, but do not require USCF membership. No matter your age or ability level, don't be discouraged if you've never been in a tournament before. It's still a fun full afternoon of chess, and the sorting that takes place from one round to the next pairs you up with more and more appropriately matched opponents. After each win you go on to face more challenging competition. After each loss, your competition gets easier, so it's well worth continuing to play, whether you win or lose.

Sections (subject to change based upon final numbers of participants):

Masters Open -- open to adult players and for student players who are above our scholastic rating cutoff or would like a higher level challenge.

* Ratings based on prior SSC tournament results, or a more recent UCSF rating if it is based on at least 15 games. Ratings and grade level cutoffs are subject to change in order to better balance numbers in each section. Please see our Tournament FAQ section for additional explanations about ratings and other tournament features.

Format:

5 rounds, Swiss System (no elimination-- all players play all five rounds). [We may reduce to 4 rounds if there are 16 players or less in each section.]

30 min for each of the first two rounds, then 40 minutes per round. In Sections K-3 and K-5 games not completed by the end of the time alotted will be assessed and decided by a tournament judge.

Clocks will be used in the Masters/Open section. Clocks may also be used in the high school section. Time control of G15;d0 in the first two rounds, then G/20;d0 (15 or 20min. per player, no time delay).

Registration:

Discounted early registration of $15. $25 onsite registration from 12noon to 12:30pm. USCF membership not required.

Prizes:

Individual trophies awarded to each of the top 6 places in K-3, K-5, and K-8 scholastic sections

Cash prizes for Masters/Open section and for K-12 scholastic section (this may change if section divisions are modified)

In official US Chess Federation tournaments you are often required to bring your own tournament chess set. Since we know many kids don't own their own regulation sets, we will provide the sets to use in all sections, plus clocks for the Masters/Open and High School sections.

Schedule: (subject to change)

Please note that in order to start promptly at 1pm, we require you to register by 12:30pm. If you can't make it in time for the first round, you can arrange in advance a first round bye (receiving 1/2 pt as if there were a draw). Late registrants may have to forfeit their first round match.